East Wake pools get swimming for Memorial Day weekend

Young swimmers have little trouble entertaining themselves while waiting for their turn to compete in the Tarheel Swimming Association meet between the Wendell Waves and Zebulon Dolphins in Wendell, N.C. Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Aaron Moodyamoody@newsobserver.com

Young swimmers have little trouble entertaining themselves while waiting for their turn to compete in the Tarheel Swimming Association meet between the Wendell Waves and Zebulon Dolphins in Wendell, N.C. Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Aaron Moodyamoody@newsobserver.com

EASTERN WAKE COUNTY

Memorial Day is not only a day to remember the sacrifice of American service members, it also marks the unofficial beginning of summer.

And, if the red date on the calendar didn’t tell you summer is approaching, you’d know it by the sounds of splashing, laughing and playing you’ll hear at area swimming pools, most of which open for business on Memorial Day weekend.

The Knightdale Community Pool, Zebulon Swimming Pool, Wendell Swim Club and Wendell Country Club all opened Saturday, May 28. The YMCA at Knightdale Station Park opened Saturday, May 21.

The Knightdale Community Pool does not require a membership, but takes payments per visit, or summer passes are available.

Digital Access for only $0.99

“It’s sort of a pay as you swim kind of thing,” Knightdale town spokesman Brian Bowman said.

Per-visit rates are $2 for ages 1-5, $3 for ages 6-12 and $4 for ages 13 and up. Children under 1 are free. Children 12 or younger must be accompanied by someone 16 or older.

The summer pass is $50 for ages 1-5, $75 for ages 6-12 and $100 for ages 13 and up.

“If you’re going to be going a lot then that’s a good deal for you,” Bowman said.

Concessions are available on weekends and some weekdays and there are shaded tables.

“It’s a great environment,” Bowman said. “You can really spend the day and have a great time.”

The Zebulon Swimming Pool does require memberships. For new families, the full-season fee is $450 plus a $50 joining fee. A half season is $325 plus a $50 joining fee. A single or couples-only membership is $375 plus a $25 joining fee for the full season or $250 for half the season plus a $25 joining fee.

The pool offers swimming lessons to non-members, but the swim team is open only to members. The pool also welcomes children from the Boys & Girls Club for an hour four days a week and kids from Hocutt’s Child Care Center once a week.

The pool also hosts Swim to Jesus camp for underprivileged youth who might otherwise not get a chance to swim.

Two churches even performed baptisms in the pool last season, Creech said.

Keith Acree at membership-only Wendell Swim Club said most of the kids who learn to swim there do it on the swim team. The largest age group for the swim team is 6 and under.

There are personal swim lessons with the pool’s lifeguards available for members.

The pool has special events for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.

Shares in the club are $125.

“We have members from all over,” Acree said. “We have members from Zebulon. We have members from Knightdale. We even have members from Johnston County that come over.”

At Wendell Country Club, there are about 35-45 pool-only members, according to General Manager Ben Yeargin, with about 150 golf-course members. Pool-only members also get to play golf at the discounted rate of $20 per person on weekdays.

Pool-only memberships are $375 for new members.

Swimming lessons are available for members.

The pool also offers a full grill for breakfast and lunch on weekends.

Yeargin said work was recently completed on the pool house and new furniture is out.

“Everything is good to go,” Yeargin said.

The YMCA at Knightdale Station Park plans to stay open through Sept. 11, weather permitting. Special activities are planned for Memorial Day, including swimming competitions.